Comparative efficacy of injectable and inhalation anesthesia in pigeons

Abstract

Comparison of inhalation and injectable anesthesia for the evaluation of safe anesthetic for avian surgery and evaluation of effect of gas anesthesia on oxygen saturation of blood in pigeon. Pigeons (n=15, Male = 2 and female = 3) were divided in three equal groups A (Ketamine Hydrochloride 10ml; West ward Pharmaceuticals, USA), B (Xylaz 10ml; MyLab Pvt. Ltd, Pak) and C (Isoflurane 250ml; Piramal Critical Care Inc, USA). Ketamine and xylazine were administrated through pectoral muscles while isoflurane was administrated with face mask by using an anesthetic machine. Ketamine and xylazine alone produce significantly hypothermia, bradycardia and respiratory depression while hypothermia, bradycardia and respiratory depression produce by isoflurane was non-significant. Ketamine alone is used for that surgery in which there is no need of muscles relaxation. It produces undesirable anesthesia and recovery. It also causes hypothermia, bradycardia and respiratory depression. For minor surgery and handling of birds xylazine may be used successfully and without harm, while for major surgeries in which painful procedure are done then the choice of anesthesia is isoflurane, because it produced rapid and smooth induction and recovery both. The duration of anesthesia is desirable, it have negligible effect on temperature, pulse rate, respiratory depression and oxygen saturation in blood. For painful procedures isoflurane is a good anesthetic choice for experimental and field studies.